I would be very surprised if they are not quickly caught, there are such a lot of CCTV cameras about now and Shields is not a very big town. When I first moved to London in the early 1970's. bank and security vehicle robberies were extremely common with the weapons of choice being sawn-off shotguns. Todays big-time criminals find it less dangerous and more profitable to get involved in the d*ugs trade, though stabbings and shootings are common place at the lower level.

Hold ups at petrol stations etc are so common here they don't make the news.
I'm on a Facebook page about crimes in the local area so I see mention of them.

They're not in what you would call rough areas either, often on biggish intersections where there are a lot of escape routes.

We also have the situation of gangs of youths walking into supermarkets & big stores, taking what they like, walking out. Not running, just walking & laughing. There's power in numbers. Plenty of CCTV footage but rarely any arrests. Usually youths of African appearance. And even if the odd one is caught, nothing much happens to them.

I think £25,000 was mentioned but it was in a safty box I think and i'm sure if they are forced open the money is covered in a dye that makes it useless. It is against the law to carry a knife in the UK as far as I know, I remember when I was a Pilot apprentice in the 1960s I carried a sheath knife it had a 6 inch blade and was strapped to my belt I needed it for cutting and splicing rope, often after my 4pm to midnight watch I would walk home about 2 1/2 miles and was often stopped by the police wanting to look into my bag and they always questioned me about the knife but after I explained all was OK. I'm not sure what would happen these days.

I don't think the aim of thieves is always to make a massive hit. The days of trying to rob banks etc are long gone.

These days they are after soft targets-a few freebies from the shop, a bit of cash. If you're 16 or 17 and can get an easy $200, you're laughing. Even an easy $50 if you stop a car and bash or threaten the driver. The added advantage is if you keep to smaller crimes, the police don't bother too hard to come after you & you get a community sentence, not a conviction, if you are unlucky enough to be caught.

You have clearly forgotten the frequency with which Mr Angry would post pictures of the lobsters that he would almost pick up daily from the rocks around our shore. I would have thought that might have impressed a man who admires them so. Ah, but that is fame - nothing lasts.

You have clearly forgotten the frequency with which Mr Angry would post pictures of the lobsters that he would almost pick up daily from the rocks around our shore. I would have thought that might have impressed a man who admires them so. Ah, but that is fame - nothing lasts.

You have clearly forgotten the frequency with which Mr Angry would post pictures of the lobsters that he would almost pick up daily from the rocks around our shore. I would have thought that might have impressed a man who admires them so. Ah, but that is fame - nothing lasts.

Take more than that to impress me.

Says Shania Whip

Nappies & Politicians should be changed often. Both for the same reason.I don't have an attitude I have a personality you can't handle.

When I was a lad, late '60's/early '70's, as a boy scout (22nd South Shields Brownsea Hall C Troop, begorra!), I carried a 6-inch sheath knife and a hand axe through the streets of Shields and at campsites all over the north of England. We also humped around felling axes and other lethal weapons, and it was all deemed to be normal and not a problem. Them was the days!

I think £25,000 was mentioned but it was in a safty box I think and i'm sure if they are forced open the money is covered in a dye that makes it useless. It is against the law to carry a knife in the UK as far as I know, I remember when I was a Pilot apprentice in the 1960s I carried a sheath knife it had a 6 inch blade and was strapped to my belt I needed it for cutting and splicing rope, often after my 4pm to midnight watch I would walk home about 2 1/2 miles and was often stopped by the police wanting to look into my bag and they always questioned me about the knife but after I explained all was OK. I'm not sure what would happen these days.

The Wild Witch-Wizard of Whiteleas
Was a changeling's son from Mars.
He learnt his songs
From the Cosmic Throngs
And played them on a Fender guitar - Oh yeah.

When I was a lad, late '60's/early '70's, as a boy scout (22nd South Shields Brownsea Hall C Troop, begorra!), I carried a 6-inch sheath knife and a hand axe through the streets of Shields and at campsites all over the north of England. We also humped around felling axes and other lethal weapons, and it was all deemed to be normal and not a problem. Them was the days!

I think £25,000 was mentioned but it was in a safty box I think and i'm sure if they are forced open the money is covered in a dye that makes it useless. It is against the law to carry a knife in the UK as far as I know, I remember when I was a Pilot apprentice in the 1960s I carried a sheath knife it had a 6 inch blade and was strapped to my belt I needed it for cutting and splicing rope, often after my 4pm to midnight watch I would walk home about 2 1/2 miles and was often stopped by the police wanting to look into my bag and they always questioned me about the knife but after I explained all was OK. I'm not sure what would happen these days.

There are always exceptions to the rules, but knife and gun crime goes on mostly within certain communities that I dare not mention for fear I may upset the sensitive.

Why bother robbing a bank.. In the UK if you shoplift and it comes to under £200 the Police will not prosecute.... Shoplifting has increased 200% and rising since this was announced

That's far too much for people to be able to take without penalty.

Obviously the courts are too busy to handle it. Surely there could be an easier way where the judges aren't imposed upon.
In proven cases of theft, what if the people (or parents, if the minors are nabbed) have to pay back the cost of what they stole, doubled. And if they are on unemployment etc, 5% taken out of it every fortnight till it is paid off, plus compulsory attendance with social services to discuss problems, budgeting.